Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi has thrown his support behind Madrid's bid for the right to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
This weekend International Olympic Committee members will meet in Buenos Aires to choose between the Spanish capital, Istanbul and Tokyo.
The football star says it'll be a positive to award Madrid the Games given the nation's recent success in a number of high-profile sports.
Messi says he was fortunate enough to participate in the Olympics, it's a fantastic experience for any athlete and he believes it could be something very important for the city of Madrid.
Messi is also a brand ambassador for Turkish Airlines, one of the main backers of Istanbul's bid, and features in advertisements currently on display in Buenos Aires promoting the airline's services to Latin America.
Madrid's bid also has the support of the Los Angeles Lakers' Spanish basketball forward Pau Gasol.
